Trap



E. F. MOGREN 2,340,484

TRAP

- Filed Arril 25. 1941 Patented Feb. 1, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TRAP Eben Ferdinand Mogren, Weaver, Minn. Applicaticn April 25, 1941, serial No. 390,267 (o1. 43-85) 4 Claims.

My invention relates to an improvement in traps wherein it isdesired to provide asimple and effective trap for catching animals of any size.

I have found that with many types of traps commercially used the animals caught are injured to a considerable extent by the trap, thereby injuring the fur to some extent. In trapping small animals for prot it is, of course, extremely desirable to catch the animal without injuring the skin any more than is necessary. Thus, when the skin has been removed it is in good shape and will command a higher price than skins which have been damaged.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a trap, preferably of the type which is placed in the animal runway and through which the animals are designed to pass. This trap is open at both ends and the animal passes through the trap from one end to the other. However, during movement ofthe animal from one end to the other of the trap a trigger is released trapping the animal within the trap.

It is a feature of the present invention to provide a trap having a bottom in the form of spaced rods or supports, and to place a pivotal element in the form of a rack of spaced rods, or the like, into pivotal attachment with the bottom of the trap. This rack is normally pivoted away from the bottom of the trap, except atene edge of the rack and is heldin elevated position by a suitable trigger means. When this Ytrigger is released the rack pivots down under spring tension into substantially parallel relation with the bottom of the trap, thus trapping the animal betweenv the rack and the bottom of the trap. p

It is a feature of my invention to provide a trap, preferably formed of wire or wire rods, so as tov make the construction light weight and easily disguised. This wire, or series of wire rods is formed into a Aframe work for supporting the trap bottom and the pivoted rack and permits light to enter through the walls of the trap so that the animal need not travel through a dark passage or tunnel. In this way the trap will not frighten the animals and they will pass through the same readily without fear of injury.

. It is a purpose of the present invention to provide a trap comprising a bottom and a series of spaced loops extending upwardly from said bot-V tom to forma passage through which the animal must pass. The trigger for releasing the pivoted rack depends within this passage so that the end'of the trigger will engage the side of the animal passing through the trap. As the side of the, animal engages the trigger and presses the trigger toward theside of the trap during the passage of the animal' through the same, the trigger is released and the pivoted rack pivots down upon the animal body, attening the animal against the bottom of thetrap. With this construction the pelt of the animal is not injured but the animal is held securely from movement. It is a feature of my invention that the trap is provided with feet or legs which engage into the ground to anchor the trap firmly in place. Thus the trap may be held in the runway of the animals and will not be permitted to move out of position. If the trap is to be used for animals which might be found in a house, such as rats or mice, these legs may be cut off so that the bottom of the trap may rest upon the floor. i

These and other objects and novel features of my invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

l In the drawing forming a part of my specification:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my trap in readiness for operation.

Figure 2I is an end View of my trap after the same has been sprung. I' Figure 3 is a perspective view of the hinge bot-` tom, the pivoted rack, and the base of the trap.

.Figure 4 is a perspective View of the mannerI in which the trigger is secured to the pivoted rack. My trap A comprises a pair of spaced parallel arches I 0 and II having the closed end of the wire arch uppermost and the lower free ends of the arch, indicated in the drawings by the numerals I2 and I3, projecting downwardly to anchor the trap into the ground. Spaced above the extremities of the ends I 2 and I3 ofthe arches IG and Il I provide longitudinally extending connecting bars I4` and i5. A third connecting bar- I6 Aconnects the arches I6 and II on one side of the center of the top of the` arch, as illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawing. VThe free ends I2 of the arch Ill Vare connected at a point spaced above the extremitiesthereof by a rod I'I. This rod I'I may be of irregular` formation, as illustrated in the drawing, or may be substantially straight if it is preferred. It is felt that the zigzag construction illustrated will hold the animal more firmly than will a straight rod. spaced from the extremities of the ends I3 of the arch I I I secure'a connecting rod I9 in opposed relation to the rod I'I. The rod I9 may be zigzag in formation similar to the rod I 'I. The series of rods are secured together by any suitable means, such as welding or the like.

Intermediate the rods Il and I9 I provide a reinforcing bar 20 which is secured at one extreme end to the bar I4 and which is welded to the bar I5. The bar 20 continues upwardly on approximately the same line of arcuation as the arches Ill and II and is terminally secured at 2l to the longitudinally extending reinforcing bar I il. In order to further support the trap and to prevent the animal from passing out through the side of the trap, a pair of spaced parallel bars lor rods 22 and 23 are secured at one end 24 to the longitudinally extending connecting bar I5. arc outf, wardly from this bar, as shown at 25. and are Spaced but slightly from the rod 29 I provide a rod 21 which is connected at its lower extremity to the connecting bar I5 at 29. The upper end.

of the bar 21 is provided with'aV loop 39 which will be later described in detail.

It will be noted that the transversely extending bars or rods I1, I9, and 29 form the bottom of the trap against which the animal is to be clamped. The means for clamping the animal against the bottom will now be described. Intermediate the arches I9 and I I and terminally connected at 3I to the longitudinally extending-bar I4 I provide one end 32 of an operating spring 33. A loop 34 is provided in the spring end32, as best illustrated in Figure 3 ofthe drawing. The spring end 32 is welded, or otherwise amxed, at 35 to the longitudinally extending reinforcing rod I6.

A clamping rack is provided which comprises a pair of longitudinally extending parallel end rods 36 and 31, which are connected by a pair of transverse rods 39 and 49 which are preferably zigzag in shape. Intermediate the rods 39 -and 40 I provide a third rod 4I which is secured to the rod 31 and extends beyond the same to form an extending end 42. This extending end 42 of the rod 4I may best be seen in Figure 4 of the drawing. At the other end the rod 4| extends beyond the rod 36 and is made into the form of a loop 43 which extends through the loop 34. The end 44 of the rod 4I is secured to the longitudinally extending rod 36, as best illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawing. The connection between the loops 43 and 34 provides a hinge to hingedly secure the rack to the body of the trap. The end 32 of the spring 33 is provided with anotch 45 in which the loop 30 of the rod 21 is engaged. The other end 46 of the spring 33 is provided with a loop 41 and a projecting end 49 which moves along the rod 29 of the trap bottom. The loop 41 engages around the reinforcing rod 4I of the pivoted rack. Thus, when the rack is free to pivot the spring 33 will tend to uncoil and to move the loop 41 along the rod 4I toward the end rod 31 of the pivoted rack. This act tends to clamp the rack down against the bottom of the trap. Figure 2 of the drawing shows the spring end 46 in unsprung position with the rack in clamping position, while Figure l of the drawing shows the rack in elevated position ready to be sprung by movement of the trigger. The trigger comprises a wire 5I) which includes a loop 5I extending through the loop 3U of the rod 21 and includes a hook end 52 designed to engagearound the projecting end 42 of the rod 4I of the pivoted rack. The construction is such that the trigger arm 59 extends into the normal passageway through the trap as illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawing. Asan animal moves pasty the trigger, the trigger isforced outwardly toward the side of the trap, this causing the trigger to pivot about the loop 5I, raising the hook end 52 out of engagement with the projecting end 42 of the centerrod 4I of the rack.. As soon as the trigger is released from the center bar of the rack, the rack is pivoted down against the base of the trap by the loop 41, squeezing the animal between the rack and the bottomV of the trap;

An additional trigger or trip cord may be provided to supplement the trigger 5D. The cord 55 is secured at one end 53 to the trigger 59, and passes through a hole, pulley, or loop at 54 in the rod 21. The cord 55 then continues across the lower portion of the trap above the base rods I1, I9, and 20, around the rod 36, and is terminally adjustably secured at 56 to the rod 32. Y

If an animal passing through the loops III and Ilstrikes the string 55, and pulls on this string, the trigger 59 is operated even though the animal has not actually touched the trigger.

As shown in Figure 1, an additional spring 51 may, if desired, extend between the extending end 59 of the bar 21 and the projecting end 49 of the spring portion 46. 'IhisV spring may increase the force with which the trap isr-sprung, when it isdesired, or it may be-removed as in Figure 2 of the drawing. Y

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my trap, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that this is only illustrative of a means of carrying out my invention and that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

l. A trap comprising a base including spaced connected zigzag rods, an arched passageway projecting upwardly from said base, a rack including spaced zigzag rods pivotally secured to said passageway and pivotal from a. position adjacent said base to a position against a wall of said arched passageway, spring means urging said rack against said base so that al1 of said rods extend in substantially parallel relationship, and trigger means holding saidrack against said one wall of said arched passageway.

2. A trapY comprising a base including spacedk a position adjacent said base and an elevatedy position adjacent a wall of said body, spring means urging said rack against said base so that Vall of said rods extend in substantially parallelV relationship, and trigger means holding said rack against said wall of said body. I

3. A trap comprising arch means secured in spaced relation to define a passage therebetween, zigzag spaced rods supported by said arches and forming a base, a wire rack pivotally secured along one edge adjacent the juncture between said base and said arches, said rack being pivotal against said base, spring means urging said rack into clamping position with relation to said base and extending partially below said zigzag connecting means, and trigger means releasably holding said rack in elevated position.

4. A trap comprising a body having a longitudinally extending passage therethrough, a base on said body, a rack pivoted along a longitudinal axis to saidbody adjacent said base, said rack being pivotal from a clamping position against said base to an elevated position, a rod extending longitudinally of said rack, a spring having `a looped end encircling said rod, said spring engaging said rod on said'rack and tending to urge said rack into clamping position with relation to said base, and trigger means for holding said rack in elevated position.

EBEN FERDINAND MOGREN. 

